Lamp receptacle



Patented Dec. 16, 1930 i sn- TES PATENT orifice f COLEMAN LINDZEY 1vIorio'nsoisr,Van,` OF'sYRAcusE, NRW YORK, assrGNoR rro Passa 'SEYMOUR, INO., oFjsOLvAY, NEW YORK, A OORPORATION'OF NEW YORK LAMP REOEPTAGLE Application mea August 13, 192s. serial No. 299,418.

` .Thisfinvention relates to incandescent lampy receptaclesor sockets, and vmore particularly to such receptacles'as4 are used for illuminatinl@r signs. Y y t is a general object of the present invention to provide anovel andl improved article of manufacture comprising a sign receptacle and a temporary closure for the cont-act recess therein. f

One of the features of the invention comprises the arrangement of a temporary closure disk at the mount ofthe recess in a lamp receptacle which is adapted to receive the base of an incandescent lamp, said closure being arranged inthe receptacle at the factory and being readily removable when it is no longer required. v

Another feature of the invention comprises the arrangement of a closure means in the mouth of the recess of a lamp receptacle, which means maybe provided with indicia or advertising or used for other purposes.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following speciflcation, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a face view of a portion of an electric sign having incorporatedtherein receptacles provided with ythe present invention; and

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l

In the manufacture of electric signs, and `particularly those large outdoor signs used for display advertising, it is customary to form the outline ofy the letter, figure or the like from a metal plate or sheet which is perforated where each'lamp is to be inserted. Be-

' hind each perforation issecured a suitable lamp receptacle attached to the metal plate in any desired manner, as by screws or the like. There is usually a flange on the receptav,cle which passes through the perforation in the metal plate to accurately locate the 'receptacle and to prevent vthe screw contact of the lamp base from coming in contact with the metal plate. The work of assembling the receptacles on the plate and wiring them linto the various electric circuits is such that itv is not convenient to paint'the face of the sign plate until this work is completed, for fear o f damaging thepaint. WVhenpaintingtheface ofV the signplatewiththe receptacles assembled thereon, there is grave danger of paint being splashed into or otherwise entering the receptacles, where it may cover either the screw shell o'r the centercontact thereof, or both,'to such an extent as to prevent suitable electrical contactbetween the lamp base and these con-p tacts. Paint on the screw shell contacts may make it diiiicult to place the lamps in position. Further, such paint may harden after thelamps are in place and make it almost impossible to remove them. The present invention contemplates vOvercoming all these dilii culties `in a simple manner. It addsno appreciable cost to the receptaclesland requires no appreciable additional work on the part ofthe electricians assembling the sign. Furthermore it allows the painters to work more rap-V idly, since they do not have to make anyat tempt to prevent the entrance of l.paint into the' receptacles. y i

`Referring to the drawing, there is disclosed at l0 a section of a metal plate such as forms the main portion of a sign. It is provided with circular perforations 11 at suitable vintervals to receive electric lamps to form theV various letters, gu'res or Vthe like. To receive jandp'rovide the electrical contact for the various lamps,`,a` receptacle such as 12 tending arms 14.- adapted to receive the screws,

lapassed through suitable vperforations in the sign plate adjacent the main perforation and serving to hold the receptacle tightly against the back face of the sign plate. The circumferential flange 16 formed integral with the insulating block projects through the main perforation 11, as shovvn, to prevent accidental Contact of the lamp base'screw contact with the metal plate 10. The receptacle block 13 is provided with the cylindrical recess 17 which extends up through the flange 16 and opens on the front face of the block at 18. Within this recess is arranged the conventional screw shell contact 19 and at the bottom of the recess is the center Contact 20. The outer edge of the screw shell Contact is well within the recess 17 in the insulation block, as best shown in F ig. 2.

The main feature of the invention consists in the closure means 21 which is assembled in the receptacle at the factory or before mounting the receptacles on the sign plate. This closure means 21 is arranged in the mouth of the recess of the receptacle. Conveniently the closure means 21 may take the form of a paper or cardboard disk of such a diameter that its edges may tightly engage the wall of the recess 17 when it is pressed into position, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer edge of the screw shell Contact 19 forms a convenient stop to prevent the closure from being pressed too far into the receptacle.

lf desired, the closure member may have printed thereon any suitable indicia, such as the name of the manufacturer of the socketj facts concerning the capacity of the socket or a legend telling how to remove the closure etc. rlhe disk is of sufficient rigidity so that ordina-ry engagement of a paint brush in painting over the face of the sign Will not press it further into the receptacle and cause its seal with the edges of the recess to be broken. After the sign is painted, these closure disks can readily be removed by the workmen inserting the lamps into the receptacle. Being of paper or like material, they can be readily punched in at one side with the finger and then Withdrawn, or a suitable implement maybe used for this purpose.

The invention in its many aspects provides an extremely convenient closure meansv for sign receptacles Which requires no additional labor on the part of the electricians assembling the sign and Which gives absolute protection to the contacts against paint applied either with a brush or a spray gun, and which can be readily removed by Workmen inserting the lamps With but slight additional labor and Which insures adequate protection for the contacts as well as provides a convenient means for advertising the manufacturer or jobber selling the receptacles.

Havingthus described 'the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be Secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lamp receptacle having an insulation block provided with a recess, a screw shell contact in said recess belowA the .mouth thereof and a removable frfic'tionally engaging'the wall of saidr'ecess near the 'mouth to retain the disk in position and sealing the recess to protect the contact:

2. In alamp receptacle having kan insulation block provided with a recess, a screw shell contact in said recess below the mouth thereof and a disk frictionally engaging the wall of said Arecess near the mouth to retain the disk in position and sealing the recess to protect the contact, said diskrest'ing against the outer edge of'said contact.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aii'X my signature. i

COLEMAN L. Nr'oHoLsoN, Ii.

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